t 


.^^ 


)N 


^ 


Ca.pt.  -Pa vkMl.  iL^ixipany, 

"  Tl  I  !■:  1 1(  )\\  ELI,  Ci  t  ARDS," 


s  .On  ttir[ve- of  kif  Depafture  fsi  the  Sealjf  War, 

AUGUST   26,    1861, 

'^  By  Rev.  John  E.  DuBosq,  Pastor  of  the  Presbyte- 
rian Ohuroii,  Tallahassee,  Florida. 


J 


[^     PUBLISHED  BY  REQUEST  OF  THE  COMPANY  AND  CITIZENS. 


Callaljasstt : 


OFFICE  OF  THE  FLORIDIAN  AND  JOURNAL 

I'lilNTED    BY    DYKE    it    CARLISLE. 


1861 


{"li^T? 


'M-t:::.  •'^S  ^a::>/rZS^ -^-^   ~>-  .*^.c:rS!t>^fc:.--'^- . 


^/\>~  u.^T'^^-^'    u^^—T^^i^^^^^^^^^^  > —  "   u..- --    ~ 


yJ  -v^  /— ^i  ■•V-^^C^aalJh:l  /--^  -V-N  /^~^>  -1-.-^ 


.  jt?-;. 


I 


Digitized  by  the  Internet  Arciiive 
in  2010  witii  funding  from 
Duke  University  Libraries 


lnttp://www.archive.org/details/sermontocaptparl<OOdubo 


SKIJMOX. 


"  Fear  not  nor  he  dismayed  :  be  stronp  and  of  jrood  courase;  fof  thus  shall 
the  Lord  do  to  all  your  enemies  against  whom  ye  tight."    Joshua  x  :  'J5. 

After  a  brilliant  victory  just  then  achieved,  and  whilst 
yet  other  conflicts  awaited  them,  Joshua,  the  illustrious 
leader  of  the  grand  arniy  of  Israel,  thus  addressed  his 
soldiers :  It  was  a  memorable  period  in  their  history.  The 
time  liad  arrived,  according  to  the  purpose  of  the  Sovereign 
Disposer  of  events,  when  His  people  should  be  masters 
in  their  own  land — when  a  nation,  long  oppressed  and 
down-trodden,  should  shake  off  their  fetters  and  rise  to  that 
commanding  position  to  which  they  were  entitled.  But 
such  a  transition  is  not  to  be  effected  without  difficulty  and 
trials — without  struggling,  peril,  and  without  great  suffer- 
ing. Though  the  same  Omnipotent  arm  that  divided  the 
waters  of  the  Great  Sea,  passing  Israel  safely  through,  and 
burying  proud  Pharaoh  beneath  the  returning  waves,  was 
still  to  be  stretched  forth  in  their  defence  ;  and  though  every 
difficulty  in  their' way  could  have  been  removed  by  His 
word,  yet,  God  adopts  a  plan  more  ennobling  to  man,  and 
not  less  certain  ill  its  results.  Using  His  creatures  as  in- 
strumentalities, He  causes  their  own  arms  to  achieve  their 
victories  and  secure  their  indej^endence.  The  ordeal  to 
which  the  Israelites  were  subjected  in  establishing  their  na- 
tionality, was  severe  and  trying.  Through  adversity  they 
learned  righteousness,  and  by  a  tardy,  protracted  and  peril- 
ous pilgrimage  in  the  desert,  they  were  inured  to  hardship  5 
and  now  on  reaching  their  long  expected  inheritance,  they 
had  yet  to  develop  the  latent  germ  of  manliness  which  op- 
pression had  crushed.     This  fruitful  land,  ere  it  became  the 


Jiomc  of  a  luigliTy  nation,  had  to  receive  a  baptism  of  blood 
(h-aAvii  in  the  contest,  as  an  offering  on  the  altar  of  liberty. 
It  seems  ordained  that  so  rich  and  precious  a  boon  cannot  be 
obtained  without  a  priceless  offering. 

The  tragic  horrors  that  attended  this  conquest,  are  melan- 
choly to  contemplate.  Entire  families  were  exterminated — 
cities  were  destroyed  and  lands  laid  M-aste — kingdoms  were 
overthrown,  and  Kings  perished  in  the  general  slaughter. — 
In  this  scene,  at  which  the  heart  grows  sick,  we  behold  the 
people  of  the  Lord  engaged.  They  were  accomplishing  the 
double  purpose  of  achieving  their  own  independence,  and  of 
administering  retributive  justice  to  their  enemies  and  the 
Lord's.  The  cup  of  their  iniquity  being  full,  lie  cuts  them 
do^^^rf|)y  the  hand  of  his  people. 

Under  other  circumstances,  such  havoc  as  was  made  by 
Joshua's  army,  would  have  been  flagrantly  wicked,  but  oe- 
<5uring  as  it  did,  however  revolting  to  our  sensibilities,  it 
was  free  from  the  stain  of  guilt.  Had  it  ])roceeded  from 
mercenar}-  motives  or  a  spirit  of  revenge,  it  would  justly  be 
regarded  wicked  and  diabolical ;  but  since  no  such  motive 
characterized  this  contest  on  their  part,  their  conduct  is  not 
rightly  subject  to  this  imputation. 

In  the  ordinary  dispensations  of  Divine  Providence,  we 
perceive  repeated  instances  of  a  nation  affecting  its  destruc- 
tion by  the  corrupt  administration  of  its  afiairs. 

The  insolent  and  contemptuous  disregard  of  the  Divine 
commands  contained  in  Ilis  Holy  Word,  and  of  chartered 
rights — unholy  invasions  of  the  rights  and  privileges  of  asso- 
ciate States — infidelity,  licentiousness  and  cupidity  have 
produced,  as  they  ever  will  produce,  disaster  in  proportion 
to  their  extent.  For  such  sins  the  Almighty  will  witlidraw 
His  sustaining  power,  and  leave  a  guilty  nation  to  reap  the 
legitimate  consequences,  whether  it  be  instability,  decline 
or  downfall.  The  History  of  the  World  is  a  record  of  this 
fact.  But  to  no  nation  can  we  point  as  a  more  striking  il- 
lustration, than  the  one  from  which  we  l)ut  recoitlv  with- 


dnw.  ^lM'  ttiMtd  forth  hitclv  in  Iut  irl'>r\ ,  tlio  woiitlor  and 
juUiiirutlon  ot"  tlie  world  ;  but  tlie  t«e«.'d.-<  t»t'  iiiHdtdity  IxMUi^ 
Powu  in  tlie,  irenial  soil  of  New  England,  where  cujiidity  has 
long  been  the  reigning  ^in,  they  sprang  up  and  brought 
forth  frnit  after  their  kind,  even  an  hundred  fold.  The 
ctiurc'h,  whi'.'h  i.s  a  nation's  safeguard,  })artook  of  this  ])oison, 
and  became  delirious.  Under  her  tnaniacal  hallucination 
she  mistook  her  mission.  Conjoining  the  ofliceof  the  humble 
ambassador  of  the  cross  with  the  corrupt  ]iolitician,  the  lines 
between  their  separate  functions  were  obliterated,  and  from 
this  illicit  and  most  unholy  association,  have  mainly  sprung 
the  errors  and  wrongs  that  are  now'  l>eing  harvested  in  the 
horrors  of  war.  T)ie  Lord  seems  to  have  given  them  up, 
that  A\ith  tiicir  own  hands  they  might  hew  out  their  A|i  se- 
]>ulchres.  Forgetting  those  cardiiial  })rinciples  of  govern- 
ment for  which  we  once  together  fought  (ireat  l^ritain. — 
Yea,  forgetting  even  reliifion  and  humanitv,  thev  have  in- 
suited,  oppressed  and  trodden  down  their  own  brethren, 
until  self-respect  and  self-i)reservation,  imperatively  de- 
Tiianded  a  separation  from  them.  Wliether  this  was  our 
rlyht  or  not,  it  was  a  necessity^  and  rendered  such  h\  that 
intolerance  characteristic  of  fanaticism.  And  even  now, 
though  the  Lord  by  Ilis  Providence  has  frowned  on  all  their 
undertakings,  the  blood  of  their  murdered  brethren  crying 
up  from  the  ground  against  them,  they  still  rush  forward 
in  the  work  of  destruction,  regardless  alike  of  the  dictates 
of  reason  or  the  obligations  of  religion.  To  rei)el  such  ^n 
enemy  as  this,  is  not  alone  self-preservation,  but  an  act  of 
duty. 

When  legislation,  remonstrance  and  entreaty  have  all 
been  tried  and  failed,  forbearance  ceases  to  be  a  virtue. — 
Kxhausted  argument  must  give  way  until  the  sword  can  re- 
store reason.  Under  these  circumstances,  the  sin  that  is 
incurred  from  the  destruction  of  life,  and  the  consequent  sor- 
row and  suffering,  must  lie  at  the  door  of  those  who  cause  it 
and  not  on  those  who.   in  the  act   of  self-protection,  1)ecome 


their  destrovcrs.  Human  life  ought  ever  to  be  held  sacred, 
even  l>y  the  sokliei'  mIio  is  educated  and  trained  for  mortal 
combat  withliis  fellow  man.  The  design  of  his  vocation  is 
really  preservation  and  not  destruction.  Circumstances  may 
render  it  necessary  for  him  to  shed  much  blood  and  to  be 
the  agent  in  producing  much  suffering,  yet  he  be  guiltless  be- 
fore God.  The  case  of  Joshua  is  an  instance  in  point.  lie 
was  one  of  the  most  eminent  Saints  of  olden  times,  and 
Avould  have  shriuik  Avith  lioly  horror  from  the  deeds  lie  per- 
formed, had  he  not  been  shielded  with  the  consciousness  of 
his  own  rectitude.  Feeling  assured  that  he  was  executing 
the  purpose  of  God,  the  duty  however  disagreeable,  was 
performed  with  untlinching  firmness.  It  was  under  this  con- 
viction that  he  exhorted  his  soldiers  to  be  fearless  and  un- 
dismayed in  the  discharge  of  this,  as  in  any  other  duty, 
which  the  Lord  commanded.  They  obeyed  their  resolute 
leader,  trusting  in  the  word  of  the  Lord,  and  soon  their 
foes  were  vanquished,  and  they,  in  quiet  possession  of  their 
land,  could  rejoice  in  what  they  had  accomplished,  and  un- 
der their  own  vines  and  fig-trees,  send  up  their  grateful 
praise  to  Ilira  wlio  gave  them  the  victory. 

As  we  are  called  on  the  present  occasion  to  address  this 
gallant  band  of  soldiers  who  have  buckled  on  their  armor 
to  defend  their  country,  and  to-morrow  march  for  tlie  seat 
of  war,  we  commend  to  them  the  exampl^  and  the  exhor- 
tation of  Israel's  pious  leader  :  '*  Fear  not  nor  he  dismayed: 
he  strong  and  of  good  courage /  for  thus  shall  the  Lord  do 
to  all  your  enemies  against  whom  ye  fight P  -. 

This    brief   but    comprehensive    injunction,    teaches  us     •   ' 

THE  SPIRIT  WITH  WHICH  THE  SOLDIER  SHOULD  GO  FORTH  TO  BAT- 
TLE,   and  THE  GROUNDS    ON  WHICH  HE  MAY  HOPE  FOR  SUCCESS. 

The  first  requisite  for  a  reliable  soldier  is,  true  moral 

courage.     The  battle-field  is  no  place  for  a  timid  man.     If 

called  to  endure  such  fierce  conflicts  as  our  armies  have  al- 

reatlyA)assea  tln-ough,  true  courage  will  be  needed  to  stand 

-^^fl'n^TT^Tliat  kind  of  courage   which  rises  from  a  sense  of 


A 


tlutv.  is  \)v>\  ailai>tc(l  tn  sikIi  an  cincrfruiU'V  a?  the  jJi-cseiit. 
Pliysical  ('(nirap:e,  tliougli  more  iiiiposiuir,  and  often  more  ef- 
fective, while  it  can  endure,  may  rrive  way  when  most 
needed.  Excited  passion,  though  destructive  for  a  time, 
may  waste  its  fury  and  subside  ;  but  the  soldier  whose  mind 
rises  to  the  magnitude  of  the  undertaking,  in  whose  l»reast 
the  tire  of  patriotism  burns — wlio,  seeing  the  danger  of  the 
field,  shrinks  not  from  it  because  duty  forbids  it.  On  him 
we  can  rely.  He  has  looked  at  consequences  and  deter- 
mined to  meet  them.  Such  men  comnuuid  victory.  ]>ut 
on  this  point  I  need  not  address  you,  since  facts  ])rove  that 
on  our  side  we  are  not  wanting  in  this  respect.  The  enemy 
themselves  are  competent  witnesses  in  the  engagements 
which  have  already  taken  place.  Truer  soldiers  have  never 
stood  on  any  field  than  those  who  have  marched  from 
Southern  soil.      J.    ^  ^    _  / 

But  more  is  needea  in  a  soldier  than  courage  ;  there  are 
trials  and  privations  of  no  ordinary  kind  to  be  encountered. 
There  is  reason  for  the  exhortation,  "  be  not  dismayed,  but 
be  strong  and  of  good  courage." 

Strength  of  purpose,  as  M'ell  as  strength  of  body,  is  re- 
<piired  for  the  camp.  Many  a  brave  man,  unaccustomed  to 
the  hardships  of  camp-life,  has  becAne  disheartened  and 
spiritless,  from  hard  fare  and  exhausting  labor.  Enlisting, 
perhaps  under  e^xcitement,  and  witlunit  counting  the  cost, 
he  was  unprepared  for  the  trials  tliat  awaited  him,  and  gave 
way  under  them.  Of  such  a  one,  however  l)rave,  we  are 
constrained  to  say  he  is  not  truly  a  soldier,  and  would  never 
do  to  drive  a  tyrant  back  or  lift  his  iron  heel  from  a  coun- 
try's neck.  In  a  time  like  this  we  need  only  men — self- 
sacrificing  men,  who  can  bear  hardships  as  good  soldiers — 
who  are  willing  to  spend  and  be  spent  in  the  service  of  their 
country.  It  is  i  ot  a  jdeasure  excursion  they  are  to  go  upon, 
but  a  season  of  toil  such  as  men,  ordinarily,  but  once  in  a 
life-time  endure,  and  such  as  few  men  M'ould  endure,  except 
to  save  their  country ;  but   a    niiiid   prepared   for  its  ti'ials. 


liJis  nearly  eiulured  tlieiii.  We  have,  therefore,  only  to  adopt 
with  tlie  iiiindsiieh  a  course  of  preparation  as  we  prescribe 
for  tlie  body,  and  if  there  is  moral  stamina  to  operate  upon, 
it  will  rise  e(pial  to  the  emergency.  Cheerfully  can  we  bid 
adieu  to  home  and  friends,  and  wear  out  strength  and  life 
on  tiie  tentwd  tield.  May  a  kind  Providence,  dear  friends, 
spare  you  the  sore  trials  your  brethren  in  arms  have  had  to 
undergo  ;  but  should  it  be  your  lot  to  become  their  partners 
in  suffering,  may  you  receive  from  on  high,  strength  equal 
to  your  duty. 

There  is  yet  one  thing  requisite  in  a  soldier,  and  it  is  the 
highest  qualification,  which  is,  a  soul  at  peace  witli  God ^  and 
a  hea/rt  resigned  and  determined  to  do  and  svffier  His  will. 

One  of  the  great  beauties  of  religion  is,  that  it  is  adapted 
to  all  stations  and  conditions  in  life.  It  adorns  the  palace 
of  a  King,  and  is  at  home  in  the  rude  hut  where  poverty 
dwells  ;  it  is  the  maiden's  ornament  and  the.soldier's  shield. 
The  soldier  who  is  at  peace  with  God  and  is  resigned  to  His 
will,  has  nothing  to  fear,  either  in  time  or  eternity.  The 
Lord  stands  pledged  to  be  his  shield  and  to  make  all  things 
work  together  for  his  good.  In  the  hour  of  battle  he  has 
God  to  lean  upon.     He   feels   assiired  that   the  eye  which  A 

watches  the  sparrow  will  be  on  him  ;  and  though  the  mis-  '  * 

siles  of  death  fly  thick  aronnd  him,  they  can  never  reach 
him  until  God  permits  it,  for  the  number  of  his  days  are 
wdth  Him.  There  is,  therefore,  in  the  breast  of  the  con- 
sistent christian,  a  sense  of  security  wdiich  Sudmirably  pre- 
pares him  for  the  field  of  battle.  The  bravest  men  are 
those  who  appreciate  danger,  yet  never  shrink  from  it.  In 
this  appears  the  superiority  of  the  christian  soldier.  The 
infidel  is  brave  as  long  as  he  can  keep  his  eyes  closed  to 
danger  and  to  future  responsibility — hence,  he  reflects  but 
little  on  consequences  ;  but  the  christian,  though  fully  awake 
to  these  terrible  realities,  can  still  be  calm  while  standing 
on  the  briidx  of  eternity. 

^hakspeare,  speaking  of  the  uncertainty  and  dread  of  the  ' 


A 


future  state,  vt-iv  truly  says  that,  "  c-dnsc-ieiu-o  makes  cow- 
ards of  us  all.''  Many  a  brave  man  who  has  trembled  in 
the  hour  of  peril  would  have  stood  lirni,  had  all  been  (juiet 
■within.  His  fellow  man  he  could  face  with  a  steady  nerve; 
but  who  can  stand  before  God  when  the  soul  is  not  at  peace 
with  Iliin.  Some  have  done  so,  it  is  true;  but  it  has  been 
by  shutting  out  (iod  and  eternity  from  the  mind.  They 
yverGhlind  enough  to  rush  into  the  very  jaws  of  death,  but 
not  brace  enough  to  open  tlieir  eyes  and  look  before  them. — 
AW'  praise  the  deed,  but  pity  the  man.  An  understanding 
pro])crly  enlightened,  will  readily  ])erceive  that  this  is  but 
the  counterfeit  of  true  courage,  and  is  dependent  on  de- 
})ravity  to  give  it  circulation.  Then,  soldiers,  let  nic  ex- 
hort you  to  be  brave  enougli  to  bend  the  knee  to  God,  and 
luimbly  seek  peace  and  reconciliation  with  Him. 
'It  Avas  a  sublime  spectacle  to  behold  in  our  late  engage- 
/meut,  a  regiment  of  brave  Carolinians,  just  as  they  were 
/  about  to  enter  the  contest,  first  bowing  down  before  the 
Almighty,  while  their  chaplain  offered  prayer  in  their  be- 
half. And  it  is  worthy  of  note,  that  this  regiment  was 
most  wonderful!}'  preserved.  Though  in  the  heat  of  the 
^battle,  (if  my  memory  serves  me)  but  three  were  killed,  y    / 

There  are  t\vo  things  to  be  observed,  concerning  this  war, 
•which  we  ask  the  men  of  this  world  seriously  to  consider. — 
In  the  iirst  place,  history  furnishes  no  instance  of  as  many 
])raying  soldiers  on  the  field  ;  and  in  the  second  place,  we 
have  never  heS:rd  under  like  circumstances,  of  such  remark- 
able preservation  of  life.  Let  scoffers  and  infidels  argue  as 
they  may,  these  two  facts  will  ever  stand  out  in  history,  as 
a  happy  illustration  of  the  efficacy  of  prayer  ;  and  brave 
(jenerals  will  doubtless  learn  the  real  value  of  piety  in  the 
camp. 

'   Now,  tlie  ground  on  which  we  may  hope  for  success,  lies 

^       KiKST  in  the  fact  thai  we  are  in  the  path  of  duty.     This  is  al- 

l"^    /  ways  the  path  of  safety  and  victory,     "Duty  is  ours  ;  con- 

I   sequences  belong  to  God."'     AVitli  a  bn\lcs<  enemy  invading 


8 


our  soil,  destroying  property  and  life,  and  assailing  virtue 
itself,  it  is  christian,  duty  to  take  the  field  and  drive  back 
tliis  foe  of  God  and  man.  It  is  a  duty  we  owe  to  ourselves, 
our  families,  our  country  and  our  Lord,  to  throw  ourselves 
before  such  an  enemy,  and  brave  death  itself,  rather  than 
leave  hitn  one  foot  of  land  on  which  to  rest  his  polluted 
feet.  There  is  no  choice  in  this  matter  but  tame  submission 
to  corruption  and  degradation,  or  manly  resit^tance  even  to 
utter  extermination.  Between  the  two  a  christian  patriot 
ought  not  long  to  hesitate.  Every  inch  of  ground  he  yields 
is  a  contribution  to  vice  and  immorality,       -f   -f     '    ^ 

This  war  upon  unoffending  freemen,  has  been  rliaracter- 
ized  by  deeds,  the  darkest  and  most  diabolical  that  have 
ever  been  recorded  against  a  civilized  nation  ;  and  to  permit 
sucli  aggressions  to  pass  unrebuked,  would  be  to  undo  the 
labor  of  a  century,  to  pour  contempt  on  the  blood  of  our 
revohitionary  sires,  and  to  open  the  flood-gateg  of  tyranny 
and  infidelity,  so  that  our  once  happy  land  wliich  has  been 
the  asylum  of  the  oppressed,  shall  be  so  inundated  with 
error  as  to  become  only  the  freeman's  prison  and  the 
home  of  the  slave.  Who  pauses,  then,  to  ask  where  dutv 
lies?  Let  a  mighty  voice  from  the  graves  of  our  fathers 
Bound  in  thunder  tones — to  arms!  Do  as  did  our  sires — 
boldly  meet  a  tyrant  iind  demand  what  God  has  given  yon. 
T/iifi  is  duty.  Let  us  discharge  it,  and  oi.t  afHicted  land 
■will  again  rear  her  lofty  head  among  the  nations  of  the 
earth.  Our  hills  and  plains  will  echo  the  joy  of  glad  hearts, 
and  from  the  temples  of  the  Living  God,  will  be  lieard  an- 
thems of  praise  unto  Ilim  who  delivered  us  from  the  hands  of 
our  enemies. 

Our  hope  of  success  further  lies  in  this,  that    God  him- 
self will   dcftnd  the  'r-igJit.     So  much  has   been  said  and 
written  on   the  correctness   of  our   position,  I    should   be     )     /j 
but    repeating    one   oft-told    tale   to  argue    this    point.-—     ] 
It   is  enough    to  say  (wdiat   fa(;ts   prove)   that   those    who    , 
are  opposing  us  began   in  radical   ei'ror,  and   have   never, 
2 


10 

In  their  prt >:,mxss  departed  from  it.  The  first  and  hist  Imd 
of  0})positit)n  to  us,  is  found  on  tlie  stem  of  nijiihlity^ 
the  mother  of  abolitionism.  Every  step  that  has  heen 
taken  in  this  agi»;ression  has  been  in  the  face  of  (rod's  re- 
sealed  Word.  ]t  is  a  siirniticant  fact,  to  be  nient'  'ued  here 
as  evidence  in  point,  that  there  is  not  a  single  branch  of  the 
christian  church  connected  on  both  sides  of  INfason  vV:  l)ix- 
oii's  line,  but  what  on  the  enemies'  side,  they  have  de]tirte<l 
from  their  own  cliurch  polity  or  doctrine.  ^<'ow.  if  any  of 
us  were  ri^-ht  twenty  years  ai^o,  the  ]>eo]>le  of  the  North  arc. 
wron<^  now,  foi-  they  now  oj>pose  what  iJu-n  they  si'l>sc''ii»ed 
to.  If,  therefore,  we  concede  the  side  of  truth  to  tliciii.  oui- 
♦  •hurches  were  all  estal)lished  on  wronn'  [)rinciples— just  wliat 
infidelity  asserts,  and  woukl  rejoice  to  prove,  ^^'hile  sudi 
has  been  the  course  of  the  church  North,  the  South,  in  all 
the  difi^'erent  branches  of  the  church,  has  continued  to  fol- 
low the  path  marked  out  in  the  M'ord  of  (Jod  and  the  de- 
nominational standards.  ^Tln's, "then,  is  an  important  link 
in  the  chain  of  evidence  in  favor  of  truth  on  our  side.  And 
as  we  turn  from  this  to  examine  into  our  civil  affairs,  we  dis- 
cover like  testimony  here.  What  once  tJiey  fought  to  ea- 
tahllsh  they  now  fii>;lit  to  destroy.  We  once  fought  for  tlu^ 
right  of  self-government — they  now  figJit  agalnUt  it.  We 
once  framed  what  we  considered  a  wise  constitution,  secui-ing 
to  all  sections  their  rights,  and  made  that  the  boiul  of  tiui- 
Union  as  States.  They  proved  false  to  it,  as  they  themselvef 
have  admitted,  while  w'c  stood  true  to  our  compact,  and 
have  to  this  day  preserved  the  constitution  unsullied.  Un- 
der this  constitution,  both  our  government  and  our  churche>> 
have  prospered.  God  has  blest  us  all  abundantly,  while  in 
good  faith  to  each  other,  we  were  true  to  the  principles  we 
set  out  on  ;  and  never  did  lie  cease  to  smile  on  the  labor  of 
our  hands  until  they  departed  from  this  line  of  j)oli(^y. — 
With  these  facts  before  us,  what  is  the  legitimate  conclusion 
as  to  where  lies  the  right  ?  Wherever  this  may  be,  there 
will  be  the  Lord  to  defend  it.     If  the  facts  alluded  to  are 


11 

Nvortli  anything  at  all,  they  show  that  we  are  on  the  safe 
side — the  side  of  ti'uth.  We  have  noriiing,  therefore,  to 
fear,  for  God  will  not  suffer  truth  to  be  overcome.  1 1  may 
be  subjected  to  a  severe  trial,  but  like  gold,  it  will  come 
out  of  the  crucible  to  shine  more  brightly.  On  such  a  fonn- 
(hilioii  you  may  well  bui^<j^'our  hopes.  The  most  powerful 
armies  cannot  contend  a<5tnnst  Ilim  whom  the  winds  and 
the  waves  obey.  In  Ilim,  therefore,  caindy  repose  your 
trust,  and  go  forth  fearlessly  and  undismayeil  to  the  de- 
fense of  your  country.  But  while  we  have  thus  maintained 
the  righteousness  of  our  cause  and  encouraged  you  to  believe 
that  tlic  Lord  will  be  with  you,  I  cannot  forget  that  it  is  a 
solemn  duty  you  are  called  to  perform,  in  the  discharge  of 
which  you  n\ay  at  any  moment  be  suddenly  hurried  into 
the  presence  of  your  God.  Let  me,  therefore,  as  a  faithful 
minister,  warn  you  against  an  error  which  I  fear  may  be 
too  connnon  among  goldiers,  that  is,  basing  their  hope  of 
eternal  salvation,  in  case  they  fall,  simply  on  the  ground  of 
their  falling  in  a  righteous  cause.  Do  not,  I  bcscecii  von, 
Kiitfer  ;iny  such  idea  to  get  possession  of  your  mind.  It  in- 
volves a  total  mis(?onception  of  God's  plan    of  salvation. 

It  is  a  false  hope  that  will  certainly  fail  you  when  it  comes 
to  be  tested.  "  Ye  must  be  born  again."  The  name  of 
Jesus  Christ  is  the  only  name  under  heaven  given,  among 
men  whereby  wenmstbe  saved.  Your  peace  must  be  made 
with  God,  through  Ilim.  All  the  noble  c'j^eds  that  you  per- 
tbrm,  wliicli  will  certainly  gain  for  you  your  country'^ 
praise,  will  avail  you  nothing  in  the  matter  of  your  salva- 
tion, without  having  faith  in  Christ.  Your  first  duty  is  to 
believe  in  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  to  surrender  your  heart  to 
him.  JSIothiug  you  can  do  will  make  amends  for  the  neg- 
lect of  this,  and  nothing  but  this  will  afford  you  anv  ground 
to  hope  for  a  blissful  immortality  above. 

In  conclusion,  allow  me  to  assure  you,  brave  soldiers,  that 
you  carry  with  you  the  earnest  prayers  and  sympathies  of 
all  you  leave  behind.    You  have  nobly  stepped  forward  to  vin== 


12 

•  licate  the  honor  of  your  cuuntry — to  purcliase  for  us  all,  if 
need  be,  with  your  blood,  the  I'ichest  earthly  inheritance 
enjoyed  by  man.  Vi^c  owe  you  a  debt  of  gratitude  which  rc- 
(juircs  more  than  a  life  time  to  pay.  All  we  have  is  now  at 
stake  ;  and  to  you  and  your  follm\'^>ldiers,  we  are  looking 
to  secure  by  your  valor,  our  deai-  iii;lits.  Our  interest  and 
yours  are  the  same.  It  is  your  homes  and  firesides  you  i^-o 
to  protect.  Wives,  mothers  and  sisters,  are  now  looking  to 
you  to  defend  them  against  a  merciless  enemy. 

Soldiers,  you  can  alibrd  to  brave  dangers  and  endure  hard- 
ships. The  eyes  of  all  you  love  are  turned  to  you  for  protec- 
tion, and  we  feel  that  we  can  say  for  you,  they  will  not  look 
in  vain.  We  fear  not  to  confide  so  sacred  a  trust  in  the 
hands  of  our  Southern  sons.  It  is  not  the  spirit  of  a 
Southern  band  to  flinch  ih  the  hour  of  need.  Go  then,  brave 
soldiers,  to  the  field,  and  from  the  sanctuary  and  the  family 
altar,  will  our  prayers  go  up,  daily  for  you.  To  a  covenant 
keeping  God  we  commend  you,  and  pray  that  with  priceless 
laurels  you  may  soon  return  to  enjoy  with  us  the  freedom 
\'our  arms  have  secured. 


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